Mad Mark: Beyond Penola-(bore)dome or I just dropped a huge blog, I hope it doesn't clog the internet

So over this past weekend, everyone got fri-tues off - the old solid 5 day weekend (a drinkers holiday, time-traveler's delight or The Curious Case of Benjamin's Bingeing). So because it was a  late Easter (which almost all of Australia gets off the Friday and Monday) it coincided with another holiday in Australia that takes place on the 26th of April (Anzac Day, like a memorial day in Oz and NZ) and thus created the perfect storm of a 5 day weekend. If I could buy stock in Coopers ale right now, I would because most of Australia is going to be consuming copious amounts of it over the next several days. They might as well make Wednesday a "memorial day" for all the brain and liver cells that fought so nobly over the weekend.

Anyway, so I decided I needed to high-tail it out of Penola for this magical weekend. I talked with my buddy Jeff who was working in McLaren Vale (south of Adelaide, pretty famous wine region) and sorted out to head that way for the weekend. Unfortunately this meant I needed to rent a car, since the ute I've been using is barely even road-legal ("but let's keep that on the down-low, she's not exactly street legal...Hey, Mike!")

In honor of the above Will Ferrell quote, I added this: what might be the greatest picture of him ever made...by man. No idea what it's from but I want one done like it (possibly even a poster of this.)

So I got a rental car organized and set out for McLaren Vale, what should have been about a 5 hours drive; 5 hours had I brought a map with me. Yeah, I almost made it there without getting lost, till I noticed I was cruising along the southern coast. Kinda missed a right about ohhh 50 km's ago. I ended up making it to "the vale" as it's known not too late (though I did tack on some extra miles that I really didn't need since I only had a limited amount for the trip). Going off topic slightly, in reference to my Mad Max beyond thunderdome post title, there's a town near Penola called Bordertown. Every time I see it on a sign I think of Bartertown in Mad max and imagine crazy weaponized cars and Tina Turner as mayor (if you haven't seen Mad Max beyond thunderdome, you really have no idea what I'm talking about and should probably watch it; it's probably on AMC or something right now. It stars a young Mel Gibson before everyone knew he was crazy and antisemitic).

What the locals might be driving in Bordertown.

Anyway, I ended up making to Mclaren vale, eventually. I've already written too much so to sum up the long weekend:

-drank lots of wine (a good change because I really haven't been enjoying enough wine), but actually imbibed in quite a few beers also.

-tasted at about 15 wineries in McLaren vale and the Adelaide hills (which was awesome). Favorite was Shaw and Smith winery in the Adelaide hills; really great stuff.

-purchased too much wine (looks like I'll have to start picking up on my wine consumption after the trip as well)

-Jeff's harvest beard shat on mine. I think it actually forced my facial hairs back into their pores. For an idea of what he is currently rocking please refer to the picture of Hacksaw Jim Duggan below (clearly Jeff you have to grow another for the Cali harvest and be Hacksaw Jim Duggan for Halloween).

American Hero: Jim Duggan

-GOT TO SEE A KOALA IN THE WILD! This thing just sauntered out in the road while I was out tasting at a place in the adelaide hills; walking around like he owns the place. He then proceeded to climb a tree (mind you not euklyptus....evolution?) where I took pictures of the mythical beast.

Deadly Drop-bear. They DO exist.

-Also got to see plenty of Kangaroos. Hell, I almost hit one on the road. Didn't really get a great picture of one though, it was little too dark and there were just slightly too far away.

Hard to see, but there's a little Joey by the side of the road. Might need to click on the picture to see the large version.

All in all had a great weekend. McLaren vale is much nicer than Penola and other harvest workers are there unlike in Penola where it seems to be just me. Big thanks to Jeff, John, Chris, and Ben for letting me crash at their place.

And as is my new tradition, some good Aussie music (all actually Australian this time):

Boy in a Box: Glitter, Gold, Ruin

Oh Mercy - Let me Go (just noticed I added this twice...ahh well, its that good)